Current Parental Depression and Offspring Perceived Self-Competence: A Quasi-Experimental Examination

摘要: A genetically-informed, quasi-experimental design was used to examine the genetic and environmental processes underlying associations between current parental depressive symptoms offspring perceived self-competence. Participants, drawn from a population-based Swedish sample, were 852 twin pairs their male (52 %) female aged 15.7 ± 2.4 years. Parental measured using Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. Offspring self-competence modified Harter Perceived Competence Scale. Cousin comparisons Children of Twins designs suggested that maternal due shared genetic/environmental liability. The mechanism responsible father–offspring associations, however, independent factors extended family factors, supporting causal inference. Thus, mothers fathers may impact via different mechanisms unmeasured selection must be considered when studying intergenerational transmission cognitive vulnerabilities depression.